This is a procedure that attempts to alleviate urinary symptoms caused by benign enlargement of the prostate gland. The enlarged prostate can compress the urethra and cause bothersome urinary symptoms. The procedure removes prostate tissue by using a laser to turn the tissues into gas. This allows easier urinary flow. Similar techniques such as Transuretheral Resection of the Prostate (also commonly know as TURP) have been successfully used to treat symptomatic benign prostate enlargement for several decades. The TURP procedure does result in patients having to stay in the hospital for a day or two as it is associated with more bleeding and other complications. The use of the
laser has allowed us to operate with less concern for bleeding allowing for outpatient surgery in most cases.

Below is a view of a prostatic urethra before and after the PVP ( Photoselective Vaporization of Prostate) procedure. The lower picture is showing that the prostatic urethra is wide open.